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Prison Ship Records from the War of 1812

This collection contains prison ship records drawn from the War of 1812, an inconclusive military conflict between the United States and Great Britain. The War of 1812 was incited by British attempts to restrict U.S. trade, the Royal Navy’s impressment of American seamen, and the American desire to expand its territory. Although war changed little between the two Great Powers, it did lead to significant symbolic events like the burning of Washington and inspired the poem that led to the United States’ national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner”.

The records are drawn from British administered prisoner of war ships and their corresponding ports, which ranges from English towns like Plymouth, to colonial ports like Barbados in the West Indies. Information provided by the shipping records includes the place of birth of prisoners, the health of the prisoners, and the port that their respective prison ships docked at. Overall, this collection offers a window into how prison populations were managed by their captors in wartime.

The detailed personal information on these men recorded in the General Entry Books is the richest single source of data relating to early American seafarers

Ira Dy, 2006 recipient of the Samuel Eliot Morison Award for excellence in US Naval history

Insights

The lists relating to prisoner deaths include the causes of death as well as locations and dates. The reader can use this information to identify the most common causes of death for American prisoners.
Each of these lists is a standard form which contains details of which ship captured the named prisoners, from which vessel, and when.
The lists relating to prisoner transfer also state where the named prisoners were exchanged and if an unnamed 'cartel' was involved.
The names and dates of ships taken by the British enable the reader to see how the number of ships captured each month changed during the 1812 war.

Highlights

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American Prisoner Transfers and Releases, with Cape of Good Hope Records

These records mainly consist of lists relating to American prisoners' transfer, release and discharge. Other papers include records and a hospital list from the Cape of Good Hope. These contents...

Date:1812-1815
Contributor:National Archives
Identifier:73068-10-04
Archive Reference(s):ADM 103-465;

Prisoner Transfers and Releases, with Correspondence on the Same

These papers and lists contain details of American prisoners who were released or transferred, which British prisoners were returned, and some letters relating to the exchange of prisoners. These contents...

Date:1812-1815
Contributor:National Archives
Identifier:73068-10-03
Archive Reference(s):ADM 103-465;

Lists Relating to Prisoner Transfer, Prisoner Exchange, and Brokering Cartels

This volume consists of miscellaneous lists of British and American prisoners of war taken and exchanged, alongside lists of discharged American prisoners. Some of these papers also contain details of...

Date:1812-1815
Contributor:National Archives
Identifier:73068-10-02
Archive Reference(s):ADM 103-465;

Prisoners who have died at Bermuda, Halifax, and Jamaica

This type 4 General Entry Book contains records of 16 deaths and 10 escapes for Bermuda; approximately 195 names with name, rank, ship, date and cause of death for Halifax...

Date:1812-1815
Contributor:National Archives
Identifier:73068-10-01
Archive Reference(s):ADM 103-619; ADM 103-625; ADM 103-626;

General Entry Book of American prisoners of war on parole at Odiham

This type 5 General Entry Book contains about 102 records, covering prisoner serial numbers: 1-34 and 11-45, from July 1812 - March 1814. Book identifier: ADM 103-593.

Date:1812-1814
Contributor:National Archives
Identifier:73068-09-04
Archive Reference(s):ADM 103-593;

General Entry Book of American prisoners of war on parole at Jamaica

This 'General Entry Book of American prisoners of war on parole at Jamaica between 28th August 1812 and 30th March 1815' is a type 5 General Entry Book, containing approximately...

Date:1812-1815
Contributor:National Archives
Identifier:73068-09-03
Archive Reference(s):ADM 103-573;

General Entry Book of French and American prisoners of war on parole at Halifax, NS

The title in the front of the volume is 'General Entry Book of French prisoners of war on parole at Halifax, NS'. The American section starts on page 15 and...

Date:1812-1815
Contributor:National Archives
Identifier:73068-09-02
Archive Reference(s):ADM 103-571;

General Entry Book of American prisoners of war on parole at Dartmouth

This type 5 General Entry Book contains about 370 records, covering prisoner serial numbers which are not in serial order; it has not been possible to determine where the numbers...

Date:1812-1815
Contributor:National Archives
Identifier:73068-09-01
Archive Reference(s):ADM 103-569;
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